I don't think the construction of that new Aldi's (technically in Vernon Hills, not Libertyville) is contingent on the Park City one closing; construction's already underway.

The Mundelein Aldi's just underwent remodelling and had a grand reopening this past weekend. Celebratory giveaways, including $5 coupons in everyone's mailboxes and local fliers, were provided.

Katie wrote:I don't think the construction of that new Aldi's (technically in Vernon Hills, not Libertyville) is contingent on the Park City one closing; construction's already underway.

Never thought of the two locations as related.

It happens the Aldi in Park City is the location I visit most often, because it is just up the road from Lake Forest.

Regards,
Cathy2

Hi,

Today, I picked up a two pound bag of nectarines at Aldi. As I write, I am eating the last one as well as my first one. My parents ate all the rest.

When I pinched them in the store, the flesh gave just a bit. I thought they might be slightly under-ripe, though my Dad found them perfect.

These were the most fragrant nectarines with a great scent rivaling perfume.

I hope others may be as lucky with these California-grown nectarines from Wawona Packing.

Regards,
Cathy2

As if the very act of walking in Aldi, and repudiating every molecule of pretention that one encounters was not enough. An enjoyable product too?

Especially telling since behemoths like WF have taken no initiative in stocking quality nectarines. Good find!

I know that Whole Foods stores are larger but their 470 stores in the United Slates and 479 worldwide but they are dwarfed by Aldi’s 1600 US stores in 35 states (a year ago), and plans to have 2000 stores by the end of this year and 2500 by 2022. Their huge buying power may give them more incentive and advantage.
Perhaps the fact that Aldi US is based in Batavia Illinois shortens the time between product arriving at their main warehouse and available for sale in Chicago stores, also resulting in a tastier product.

And the stores that they have opened since 2016 are a major upgrade both in terms of fixturing as well as freshness of produce.

I just stopped by the new Menards in Vernon Hills, next to the Aldi being built, and it is immense. It basically has an entire grocery store (without the refrigerated/frozen food, meat and deli) inside it.....about 8 aisles of food). You are going to have Jewel, Mariano's, Aldi, Menards, and Trader Joes all at that intersection, with Whole Foods going in right down the street. It will be interesting to see if they can all make it.

-Will

There's a newbie from Germany on the starting blocks. Lidl, by revenue the 4th largest grocer in the world, has started rolling out locations on the Eastern seaboard.

https://www.lidl.com/

Lidl started rolling out on the East coast sometime last year, and from what I have heard it is not doing that well in the US so far.

NFriday wrote:Lidl started rolling out on the East coast sometime last year, and from what I have heard it is not doing that well in the US so far.

They have scaled back their expansion plans in the US considerably. Mst of my friends in North Carolina have told me that they have been there one or twice to see what the buzz is all about but have never gone back. Maybe another Fresh and Easy that was neither???

It has taken ALDI several decades to penetrate the US market to the extent that it has. And there have been a lot of mishaps along the way as well as repositioning. They are finally at the point where they can throw up 500 stores in a year and pull it off. They are planning on expanding in SoCal and will be opening 20-40 stores in Phoenix in 2018-2020. Midwest transplants in Arizona cannot wait until ALDI opens. The locals are all in doubt whether they can be successful in Phoenix.

I will say this, when ALDI enters a market with Winco Foods, it is like the day that you raid the chemistry lab and toss a bit of sodium in the toilet. The two companies generally start a "pricing war" that would seem to hurt their bottom line at first but in reality will draw market share from the conventional grocery stores.

What mystifies me is that despite its German roots, Aldi does not sell rye bread. Except those hard square things which in my opinion don't count.

Toria,

Our local Aldi sells two or three kinds of your actual German bread, stuff I've bought in the Old Country as well, so I know it's real. My wife particularly enjoys vollkornbrot, a really grainy, indeed chunky, thin-sliced rye bread.

Geo

Any rye I've seen is not like a loaf of rye bread you would buy here. Its the pumpernickel square kind in a cellophane package. Very hard and not really bread in my opinion.

Toria,

This is the Real Thing: it is what you buy in Deutschland when you're going after packaged rye, pumpernickel, etc. bread. From a bakery, it's obviously in a loaf. But at an Aldi in Germany, this is what you'd buy, just like at a full-service Aldi here in the U.S. Indeed, I've bought this kind of bread here in Plattsburgh NY of all places.

Geo
https://www.healthyfoods-online.com/delba-vollkornbrot-500g

Toria,

The bread you don't like is a product introduced to Germans during food shortages between WWI and WWII. There was a shortage of wheat, so they concocted what you see today. When the deprivations were over, there was now a preference for this style of bread.

I have been watching youtube videos with tours of Aldi stores in Germany and such.

Bread vending machine


Bread slicing machine

Cathy2 wrote:Toria,
Bread vending machine

IwantitIwantitIwantitIwantitIwantitIwantitIwantitIwantitIwantitIwantit.

Buddy

Hi- I don't know how many people here visit the Evanston store, but the Evanston Aldi's on Oakton is currently remodeling. You have to enter the store from the side. It looks like they are adding an addition on to the store on the East side of the store. I assume that the store will shut down for a few weeks during the final remodeling phase. I am kind of surprised that they are remodeling the store, because the store is probably only five years old.

I only go to Aldi's maybe four times a year, and I was there yesterday. I spent a total of $9.99, and all I bought was a two pound box of Michigan cherries, a container of low fat ice cream and a loaf of 100% whole wheat bread. The cherries had been sitting around too long. They were $5.50 for a two pound box, and the Western cherries were $1.49 a pound. They were okay, but I had to throw a few away. I think they were selling a lot more of the Western cherries, and they did look okay. The peaches and cream ice cream was just okay. That was the first time I had purchased ice cream at Aldi's, and it will probably be the last. Does anybody else here purchase ice cream at Aldi's? It was too sweet and tasted artificial.

Construction of the new Aldi's in Vernon Hills, next to Menards and in front of Mariano's on Milwaukee Avenue, is moving along quickly now. Looked to me like the steel framing was complete when I drove by a couple of days ago.

The Aldi at Argyle and Pulaski reopened this week. The interior remodel is complete, though the parking lot and landscaping are still being worked on. Most noteworthy aspect of this remodel is how much roomier this location is related to other updated stores in the area, such as Montrose/Western, which feels cramped by comparison. Prices remain low by and large, even while some staples like milk and cereal have seen some significant increases, though still lower than the big box competitors.

Regarding the rye bread in cellophane...I know its real and stuff and I have been having it all my life. My grandmother kept that kind of bread along with Zwieback. Still don't like either!!!

The bread machine is interesting.

Aldi unveils new products in aggressive push toward fresh and organic

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ ... story.html

I am surprised that Aldi's only held 4.1% of the market share in the Chicago area last year. I've never seen milk for $.97 a gallon at the Aldi's I go to. I bet you that the only Aldi's that sell milk that cheap, are located near a Walmart.

NFriday wrote: I am surprised that Aldi's only held 4.1% of the market share in the Chicago area last year. I've never seen milk for $.97 a gallon at the Aldi's I go to. I bet you that the only Aldi's that sell milk that cheap, are located near a Walmart.

The Aldi I wind up shopping is 4645 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60639
Look at what's across the avenue from it... 4626 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL 60639

HI,

Aldi in Park City on Rt 120 has closed. This was a great location with a $3 car wash next door and Bargains in a Box just a few blocks east. Bargains in a Box took advantage of the Toys R Us closing by buying their shopping carts and repainting them. However the embossed backwards R was a dead give away. No more dragging a box with a rope to collect your purchases.

Last Thursday, a new Aldi opened at Waukegan's Fountain Square at 1050 S Waukegan Road.

It's new construction, it is a very big store by Aldi standards, especially compared to the old location. A lot more products to check out. It was also a bit crowded, too.

Regards,
Cathy2

THey are in the process of remodeling the Evanston store, and it will be closed until 10/31. I am surprised they are remodeling it because the building is probably only 5 years old.

NFriday wrote:THey are in the process of remodeling the Evanston store, and it will be closed until 10/31. I am surprised they are remodeling it because the building is probably only 5 years old.

The remodeled stores can sell way more products. The refrigerated produce selection alone probably increases 20 to 30% .

They also are probably looking for uniformity so that customers can count on whatever store they go to will have similar products.

Has anyone mentioned that the Aldi on Kimball & Belmont is also closed for renovations? I didn't know until I went right up to it.

In other news, I picked up 12 packs of cookies for under $20. Boo to the ya.

I was in the Oak Creek, WI, ALDI store and noted that they had a fresh bakery. I did not get an opportunity to purchase any of the bread at the place. However, we did try four of the pastries which ranged from very good to very average. The pretzel was nearly inedible.

You will see ALDI renovating nearly any store that was opened prior to 2014. And any new store will be larger. They have had so much success with the model stores they opened in California that they want to get that into a lot of new markets.

The key differences are that nearly all of the produce is refrigerated and there is a major increase in the amount of organic and conventional produce.

run, don't walk to Aldi to get the Seed You Later Pumpkin bread!!!! It is delicious toasted!!!! Get it now. They have it by the regular bread in a loaf. Its like bread not cake.